Total Cycle Research Articles

Biological performance of Bollgard II® Bt-resistant vs susceptible population of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) on non-toxic diet

BackgroundThe pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), is a devastating global pest of cotton that has caused substantial economic damage to Bt Bollgard-II® cotton plants in recent years due to the evolution of Bt resistance. The associated fitness cost is assumed to be one of the factors delaying the development of resistance against Bt transgenic crops. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the biological performance of pink bollworms by comparing the life history and demographic parameters of a resistant (Field-R) and susceptible (Lab-S) population.ResultsProlonged larval duration (23.40 days in Field-R vs 18.80 days in Lab-S population), total life cycle (male = 50.00 vs 42.80 days; female = 53.60 vs 46.20 days), reduced fecundity (100.60 vs 154.20 eggs/female) and fertility (88.00 vs 138.00 fertile eggs/female) was observed. The demographic parameters indicated a significant reduction in the net reproductive rate (184.27 vs 276.72), innate capacity for increase in number (0.11 vs 0.15), finite rate of increase in number (1.12 vs 1.16 female progenies produced/female/day), weekly multiplication rate (2.16 vs 2.86), potential fecundity (545.06 vs 634.11 eggs), number of hypothetical F2 females (33 955.65 vs 76 572.41), but longer mean length of generation (47.54 vs 37.74 days) and population doubling time (6.30 vs 4.62 days) in Field-R compared with Lab-S population. A stage-specific life table demonstrated the differences in survival rates between susceptible and resistant populations at various life stages, with the resistant population having higher generation mortality (0.22 vs 0.19).ConclusionsThe study confirms the involvement of fitness costs associated with Bt resistance in P. gossypiella. Despite reduced reproductive fitness, the resistant population tried prolonging the larval stage as a compensatory mechanism to repair the damaged host tissues due to Bt intoxication and for accumulation of enough nutrient reserves for normal pupation and adult emergence. Presence of a high proportion of double Bt-resistant larvae in the field coupled with continued noncompliance with refug planting certainly favours the flaring up of this monophagous pest despite the observed fitness costs. The resistance cannot be effectively reversed unless suitable alternative management strategies are deployed.

Non-invasive assessment of left ventricular hemodynamic forces in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background Hemodynamic force (HDF) analysis allows non-invasive measurement of intraventricular pressure gradients, portraying cyclic spatial-temporal interaction between blood and tissues. Impaired HDFs have been implicated in early detecting of adverse cardiac remodelling and treatment response in various cardiovascular disorders, providing insights into cardiac physiology not offered by traditional cardiovascular imaging (1). Mainly explored in heart failure, HDF analysis has not been previously applied to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Purpose To investigate differences in systo-diastolic function in HCM patients compared to healthy controls using HDF analysis. Methods Forty patients with HCM diagnosis (20 obstructive and 20 non-obstructive) were retrospectively evaluated in comparison with 22 healthy controls. Left ventricular (LV) HDFs were derived from routine transthoracic apical 4-, 2- and 3-chamber views using a dedicated software. Apical-basal HDF curves were generated, where positive deflections represent forces directed from the LV apex to the base, whilst negative ones are directed toward the apex. Amplitude and timing parameters were derived, the latter indexed to total cardiac cycle duration. Results Table 1 shows the demographic, clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of HCM compared to controls. Patients with HCM were older, had a slower heart rate due to treatment with beta-blockers, and showed hypercontractility, as expressed by higher LV ejection fraction. Compared to controls, HCM patients showed reduced LV longitudinal force, i.e. the force during the whole cardiac cycle (4.17% [2.36-5.52] vs. 6.01% [4.73-7.78], p=0.002), shorter time interval to systolic peak (0.15 [0.12-0.16] vs. 0.19 [0.17-0.20], p <0.001), and shorter duration of LV impulse (0.29 [0.27-0.32] vs. 0.34 [0.32-0.37], p <0.001) (Figure 1). However, no differences in terms of systolic force peak (p=0.283) or LV impulse intensity (p=0.689) were detected. During the transition between systole and diastole, LV suction (i.e. the interval including late systolic deceleration and early diastolic suction) was significantly longer (0.26 [0.22-0.29] vs. 0.23 [0.21-0.25], p=0.023) but less pronounced (6.30% [4.56-8.44] vs. 8.72% [6.71-12.59], p=0.005), likely reflecting a relaxation impairment from the very beginning of diastole. Such impairment was maintained during early diastolic filling, where the amplitude of the positive deceleration flow force was severely reduced in HCM compared to controls (2.98% [1.98-4.58] vs. 7.11% [4.55-8.72], p <0.001). Conclusions HDF analysis in HCM patients revealed unique systolic and diastolic changes reflecting faster LV contraction during systole and slower and weaker LV forces during diastole. This analysis deepens our understanding of HCM mechanic abnormalities and may help assess response to innovative treatment options.

Cycling of labile and recalcitrant carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules and carbohydrates in Baffin Bay

Marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) is an important, actively cycling carbon reservoir (662 GtC). However, the chemical structure and cycling of DOM within rapidly warming, polar environments remains largely unconstrained. Previous studies have shown rapid surface cycling of carbohydrates as biologically-labile DOM (LDOM). Conversely, carboxyl-rich alicyclic molecules (CRAM) are often used as examples of biologically-recalcitrant DOM (RDOM). Traditional DOM isolation methods (e.g., ultrafiltration (10–30% of DOM) and solid-phase extraction (40–60% of DOM) induce chemical-, size- and compositional-bias – complicating inferences to total DOM cycling. Here, we use a total DOM proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy method to show carbohydrates and CRAM have high concentrations in the surface ocean and low concentrations at depth in Baffin Bay. Between 21–43% of surface CRAM is removed at depth. These results suggest both CRAM and carbohydrates are major LDOM constituents – contradicting the existing CRAM cycling paradigm and further constraining the long-term persistence of deep ocean DOM.

Phase II Trial of Gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel for Recurrent Osteosarcoma with Serial Monitoring Using Liquid Biopsy: A Report from the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel is often used to treat patients with recurrent osteosarcoma. Nab-paclitaxel has preclinical activity against osteosarcoma and is potentially less myelosuppressive than docetaxel. We conducted a prospective multi-institutional phase II trial combining gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel for patients 12-30 years with recurrent osteosarcoma and measurable disease. A Simon's two-stage design was used to test a 4-month progression-free survival (PFS-4) of 10% vs. 35%. Patients received nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 and gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 weekly x 3 in 4-week cycles. Immunohistochemical analysis of archival tissue and serial assessment of circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using ultralow passage whole-genome sequencing were performed to identify potential biomarkers of response. Eighteen patients received 56 total cycles (median 2, range 1 - 12). Two patients (11%) experienced confirmed partial response, and 6 (33%) received > 2 cycles. The PFS-4 was 28% (95% CI 13-59%). Six patients required dose reductions and three patients were removed due to toxicities. All 18 patients had detectable CTCs, and 10 had ctDNA identified. All 8 patients with MYC amplification at study-entry experienced disease progression. Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel demonstrated similar clinical activity and toxicity compared to previous retrospective reports utilizing gemcitabine and docetaxel in patients with recurrent osteosarcoma. Serial analysis of CTC and ctDNA was feasible in this prospective multi-institution study and provides preliminary data on the use of these assays in patients with relapsed disease.

An environmental cost-benefit analysis of organic and non-organic sheep farming in Iceland

This paper presents an environmental cost-benefit analysis (CBA) comparing organic and non-organic sheep farming in Iceland over three decades. Environmental life cycle costing (ELCC) is the basis for the aggregate cost framework, encompassing costs for investment, operations, maintenance, and environmental externalities. Greenhouse gas emissions are included as an external cost as they relate to the monetization of damages to society. Net present value (NPV) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) indicators reveal both systems as unprofitable over thirty years with and without subsidies. Depending on the discount rate, the organic farm's BCR ranges from 0.26 to 0.38, with a NPV between (-2.4) and (-1.1) million euros. The non-organic farm's BCR ranges from 0.12 to 0.19, with NPV between (-8.6) and (-3.7) million euros. Greenhouse gas emission costs constitute 28% and 33% of total life cycle costs for organic and non-organic farms. Across three discount rates, the LCC and ELCC per kilogram of organic lamb ranged between €13.78 – 25.27 and €18.23 – 37.07, respectively. The LCC and ELCC per kilogram of non-organic lamb ranged between €9.75 – 18.05 and €13.80 – 28.82, respectively. Due to a shortened value chain, organic sheep farming demonstrated revenue advantages as compared to non-organic. The external cost of greenhouse gas emissions from sheep farming forms a significant portion of lifetime costs suggesting that policymakers could incentivize organic practices aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, this study provides a deeper understanding of the long-term economic prospectivity of sheep farming under different production approaches.

Joint estimation of SOH and RUL for lithium batteries based on variable frequency and model integration

The safe and stable operation of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles is crucial. Aiming at the problems of a large workload of online estimation and prediction and inability to weigh the whole life cycle of the battery in the joint estimation of SOH (State of Health) and RUL (Remaining Useful Life) for traditional lithium-ion batteries, this paper proposes an optimization scheme for the joint analysis of SOH-RUL. First, the article extracts suitable health features. It utilizes an integrated Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) to estimate the SOH of the battery and inputs the estimates into a Regression Vector Machine (RVM) model for RUL prediction. To better cope with the phenomenon of "sudden capacity change" in batteries, this paper divides the entire life cycle into the early and late stages. A lower estimation frequency and model integration are employed in the early stage.In contrast, the estimation frequency and model integration are increased later to balance speed and safety in total life cycle estimation. Finally, validation was performed on the NASA and CALCE datasets, comparing the effect of constant estimated frequency and model integration with that of varying estimated frequency and model integration at different aging stages. The RMSE of SOH estimation error for both datasets is within 2% during the early and late stages, and the SOH estimation error for the entire lifecycle is within 2%. The absolute RUL prediction error for the NASA dataset is below five times; for the CALCE dataset, it is below 20 times in most cases.

PRODUKTIVITAS ALAT EXCAVATOR VIBRO HAMMER UNTUK PEMANCANGAN SSP REUSE PADA PROYEK RENTANG IRRIGATION MODERNIZATION PROJECT DI KABUPATEN MAJALENGKA

Rentang Dam is currently implementing a project, namely the Rentang Irrigation ModernizationProject (RIMP), which aims to restore irrigation functions, stabilize soil conditions, and alsooptimize water distribution. One of the projects that is being implemented as an effort to stabilize thecondition of the land is the installation of SSP Reuse piling. In the erection of SSP Reuse, the heavyequipment used was a vibro hammer excavator. From the erection of the SSP Reuse erection usinga vibro hammer excavator, its productivity can be seen. In this study, we review the productivity ofa vibro hammer excavator tool for erecting SSP Reuse on the right side of the CP. 168 – CP. 170110 meters long. The erection of the SSP Reuse is a follow-up effort to ensure that landslides do notoccur and access to residents' houses is wide. The productivity of the vibro hammer excavator forerecting SSP Reuse with a working day of 30 days per 8 hours, the average point obtained per dayis 9.17 sticks. Meanwhile, for the cycle time on day 1 at 13 SSP Reuse points with dimensions of 8 x0.4 m with vibration via a vibro hammer, the total cycle time was 200.71 minutes and the averagecycle was 15.44 minutes. Finally, the average cycle time of the vibro hammer piling tool taken during30 days of work had a cycle time of 11.33 minutes per rod.

Comparative assessment of global warming potential of gasoline, battery, and hybrid vehicles in India

This study reports a comparative analysis of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG, CO2-eq.) emissions of three fuel-type vehicles, viz. internal combustion engine (ICEVs), battery electric (BEVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), from an Indian perspective. Vehicles in hatchback and compact sports utility vehicles (SUVs) categories were analyzed. GHG emissions in fuel life cycle (well-to-tank and tank-to-wheel) and vehicle life cycle were estimated using data from websites of OEMs and ministries of Government of India, and the GREET software. The vehicle life cycle constitutes a smaller fraction (15–20 %) of total life cycle GHG emissions for ICEVs and HEVs compared to BEVs (∼35 %). The vehicle cycle emissions of BEVs are higher than ICEV and HEV in both categories (52–63 % for hatchback and approx. 45 % for compact SUV). The fuel cycle emissions of BEVs are smaller than ICEV and HEV in both categories (29–34 % for hatchback and 32–40 % for compact SUV). The total life cycle GHG emissions of BEVs were lower than ICEV and HEV (15–17 % in hatchback and 17–25 % in compact SUV category) for the 2023 energy mix in India with a significant share of thermal route. With anticipated doubling of renewable energy sources in India by 2030, the total life cycle GHG emission of BEV will decrease by approximately 20 %. However, sensitivity analysis revealed that BEVs produce higher GHG emissions than ICEVs and HEVs until a minimum lifetime travel distance. Thermal power plant efficiency and battery lifespan also influence BEVs lifetime GHG emissions.

Valorization of food waste into hydrogen energy through supercritical water gasification: Generation potential and techno-econo-environmental feasibility assessment

Food waste (FW) is a significant portion of the solid waste produced by cities, and it has become a global problem due to the poor management of food distribution and consumption. The improper disposal of FW in landfills precipitates pervasive global environmental predicamentsHowever, effective management strategies have the potential to convert this large amount of garbage into a very effective renewable energy source, particularly through the generation of environmentally friendly hydrogen. This study examines the capacity for energy generation and the practicality of hydrogen production in Bangladesh using supercritical water gasification technology. The findings indicate that approximately 489 MW of electricity can be extracted from approximately 23 million tons (Mt) of FW in 2023, with a projected escalation to around 2042 MW by 2042, coinciding with an anticipated surge in FW generation to approximately 110 Mt. Moreover, the study delves into the economic feasibility of these gasification endeavors, employing diverse metrics encompassing total life cycle cost, net present value, investment payback duration, levelized cost of energy, and internal rate of return. Technoeconomic analyses divulge an investment with a net present value of 11,669.4 M$M$, an 11-year payback period, and an internal rate of return of 14 %. In addition, the research assesses the technological, economic, and environmental viability inherent in the establishment of gasification-based electricity-generating facilities in Bangladesh's preeminent eight cities by 2023. This examination postulates that a transition from coal-based power plants to those powered by food waste would precipitate an annual reduction of 3.59 Mt in carbon dioxide emissions.

Achieving Electron Capture Dissociation in the Radio Frequency Linear Ion Trap without the Assistance of a Magnetic Field─A Simulation Study.

It is extremely difficult to inject a low-energy electron beam into a conventional radiofrequency (RF) linear ion trap for electron capture dissociation (ECD) without using a magnetic field to focus the electrons. In this study, the dynamic process of electrons in an RF field during their injection and transmission through a linear ion trap was simulated to determine the range of the RF phase where the electrons can be decelerated to meet the energy requirement for ECD. The ECD time window was expanded by applying a time-dependent compensation voltage to the cathode. The relationship between the cathode voltage and the phase of the RF voltage was determined. The ECD time window was increased to 49.4% of the total RF cycle after applying a compensation voltage. Between the phases of RF voltage of 0 and 0.975 π, at least 98.7% of electrons can be injected into the ECD reaction zone, and 94% of them had an energy less than 3 eV. The range of electron energy can also easily be shifted upward to enable hot electron capture dissociation.

Upfront or delayed surgery in resectable hepatoblastoma: analysis from the children’s hepatic tumors international collaboration database

In the treatment of resectable hepatoblastoma (HB), it has not been established whether upfront surgery (UF) at diagnosis or neoadjuvant chemotherapy and delayed surgery (DL) is preferred. We compared patients with localized HB who underwent either UF, or DL after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the Children's Hepatic tumors International Collaboration (CHIC) database of 1605 cases enrolled in eight multicenter hepatoblastoma trials between 1988 and2010. Among the 512 resectable HB patients who had PRETEXT (PRETreament EXTent of disease) I or II unruptured tumors at diagnosis without extrahepatic invasion, distant metastases, or massive vascular invasion, 172 underwent UF and 340 underwent DL. The primary outcomes were event-free and overall survivals after start of treatment in these two groups. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Maier analysis with long-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression models. Complete resection rates were comparable (93.6% in UF and 89.7% in DL). The total cycles of chemotherapy of DL (median:6) were significantly more than those of UF (median:4) (P<0.01). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 90.6% and 86.6% (P=0.89) in the UF and DL cohorts, respectively. The surgical complications, recurrence rates, and late complications were not significantly different between the cohorts but the EFS rates of DL patients with a low alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (100-999ng/mL) or older age at diagnosis (≥3 years old) were significantly worse than others. The outcomes, surgical resectability, and complications were not significantly different between the UF and DL groups. Eligible patients with a low AFP level (<1000ng/mL) or older age (≥3 years old) showed better outcomes in the UF group and might be considered for initial resection. European Network for Cancer Research in Children and Adolescents, funded through the Framework Program 7 of the European Commission; Children's Oncology Group Cure Search grant contributed by the Hepatoblastoma Foundation; Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control and Project Promoting Clinical Trials for Development of New Drugs and Medical Devices, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science; and Swiss Cancer Research grant.

A comparative life cycle assessment of fifth-generation district heating and cooling systems

With the growing global demand for cooling, there is a critical need for sustainable solutions that efficiently provide both heating and cooling. Fifth-generation district heating and cooling (5GDHC) systems present a promising option, integrating renewable energy and enabling energy sharing. Despite their potential, the environmental performance of 5GDHC systems has not been comprehensively studied until now. This study addresses this critical gap by conducting the first comprehensive cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of 5GDHC systems, uniquely incorporating hybrid environmental flow coefficients. This approach significantly enhances the coverage and accuracy of the analysis compared to traditional assessment methods. Using the University of Melbourne’s proposed Fishermans Bend campus as a case study, we compare different 5GDHC configurations with a state-of-the-art traditional system. Our findings reveal that 5GDHC systems can reduce total life cycle GHG emissions by up to 52%, particularly when suitable heat sources and sinks are available. This study underscores the importance of considering life cycle impacts in the early planning stages of energy systems, positioning 5GDHC as a viable solution for the energy transition.

An Innovative Vision-Guided Feeding System for Robotic Picking of Different-Shaped Industrial Components Randomly Arranged

Within an industrial plant, the handling of randomly arranged objects is becoming increasingly popular. The technology industry has introduced ever more powerful devices to the market, but they are often unable to meet the demands of the industry in terms of processing times. Using a multi-component feeder, which facilitates the automatic picking of objects arranged in bulk, is the ideal element to speed up the identification of objects by the vision system. The innovative designed feeder eliminates the dead time of the vision system since the feeder has two working surfaces, thus making the viewing time hidden in relation to the total handling cycle time. In addition, the step feeder integrated into the feeder structure allows for control over the number of objects that fall onto the work surface, optimizing the material flow. The feeder was designed to palletize aluminum hinge fins but can also handle other products with different shapes and sizes. A two-dimensional (2D) vision system is integrated into the robotic cell to identify the components to be palletized, obtaining a reduced cycle time. The innovative feeder is fully adaptable to industrial applications and allows for easy integration into the robotic cell in which it is installed; by testing its operation with different aluminum fins, male and female, significant results were obtained in terms of cycle times ranging from 1.44 s to 1.68 s per piece, with an average productivity level (PL) of 1175 pcs every 30 min.

Highly stable anode-free sodium batteries enabled by mechanically deformable nucleation interface

Anode-free sodium metal batteries (AFNMBs) with zero excess sodium offer superior energy density, lower cell cost, and design practicality for next-generation EVs and other applications. However, reaching consistent high Coulombic efficiency (CE) greater than 99.9 % remains a challenge for this battery architecture. In this study, our findings support that using a soft Li metal interface under a current collector coated with a thin carbon black nucleation layer facilitates extremely stable nucleation and growth of Na metal by locally distributing pressure to mitigate SEI or dead sodium formation. Specifically, our findings demonstrate Na half cells with stable CE of 99.98 % over 500 cycles at 0.5 mA/cm2. Further, zero-excess sodium full cell AFNMBs with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathodes exhibit total first cycle formation loss of only 5.4 % at C/10 rates, which is over two times lower than commercial Li-ion cells, with capacity retention of 97.4 % after 100 cycles at 0.5 mA cm-2 (∼ C/3) and average round-trip charge efficiency of 99.97 %.

Optimal design of concentrated solar power-based hydrogen refueling station: Mixed integer linear programming approach

This paper developed a mixed integer linear programming model to optimally design hydrogen refueling station coupled with an on-grid concentrated solar power. The model aims to minimize the total life cycle cost of the integrated system addressing various constraints. The utility of the proposed model is validated using hydrogen refueling station under the weather conditions of Dhahran city, Saudi Arabia. The station fulfills the daily hydrogen requirements of taxi-fleet in Dhahran city, estimating a daily demand of 4202 kg of hydrogen. The proposed hydrogen refueling station requires a solar field of 71,721 square meters to generate 50,233 MWh of energy annually. The on-grid concentrated solar power system is determined to produce an excess energy of 10,515 MWh which is exported to the grid, highlighting positive economic impact. The levelized cost of hydrogen of the proposed system is 7.17 $/kg. The achieved results validated the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed system, positioning it as a sustainable solution for meeting the rising demand for clean and green transportation in the region.

Total gonadotropin dose did not affect euploid blastocyst rates: an analysis of more than 19,000 oocytes.

To evaluate whether increasing total gonadotropin (Gn) dose is associated with changes in euploid blastocyst rate in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) oocytes. This retrospective cohort study was conducted between 2017 and 2022, and 19,246 oocytes were grouped and analyzed based on tri-sectional quantiles of total Gn doses. Single reproductive medical center. All the patients who underwent PGT cycles, including PGT for aneuploidy, monogenic disorders, and structural rearrangements, were included. Next-generation sequencing platforms for chromosomal analysis. Blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates. In total, 19,246 oocytes and 5375 PGT blastocysts were analyzed. There were significant differences in blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates among the groups classified according to tri-sectional quantiles of total Gn doses. Significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), proportion of primary infertility, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, number of oocytes retrieved, controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) regimen, type of Gn, and PGT category were observed among the three groups. After stratifying the analysis by age, BMI, infertility diagnosis, AMH levels, number of oocytes retrieved, PGT category, type of Gn, and COS regimen, significant differences were only seen in a small number of specific subgroups. Furthermore, the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates did not significantly increase or decrease with the total Gn dose, whether treated as a continuous variable or divided into three Gn groups as categorical variables. Notably, advancing age was a risk factor for blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates. PGT for structural rearrangements was a risk factor for blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates as compared with PGT for aneuploidy. In the total PGT cycles, advancing age, and preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements negatively affected blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates; however, the total Gn dose did not affect blastocyst formation and euploid blastocyst rates.

Benefit evaluation of HVAC and HVDC for offshore wind power transmission system under the multidimensional index

With the development of offshore wind power transmission technology and the emergence of new dimensions in deep-sea wind power scenarios, some indexes in the existing evaluation system cannot meet the comprehensive benefit evaluation of multiple offshore wind power transmission schemes in new operating scenarios, making the identification of the optimal economic distance of different schemes vague. Therefore, this paper integrates multiple parameters into the total life cycle cost and levelized cost of energy indexes for traditional and new transmission schemes in deep-sea scenarios, considers power generation income, environmental and carbon index, and proposes a multidimensional evaluation method for offshore wind power transmission systems, and analyzes the sensitivity of the constructed indicators. Then, using actual geographic information data, the established parameter fusion multidimensional evaluation method is used to analyze the technical and economic ranges of four offshore transmission schemes. The results show that the optimal economic critical interval of active commutation type high voltage direct current transmission system (CSC) is 98 km, which is about 23 % higher than that of voltage source converter based high voltage direct current transmission system (VSC). Therefore, CSC is more suitable for deep offshore wind power transmission than VSC and has better comprehensive technical and economic performance.

Recurrent neural networks as virtual cavity pressure and temperature sensors in high-pressure die casting

High-pressure die casting (HPDC) is a permanent mold-based production technology that facilitates the casting of near net shape components from nonferrous alloys. The pressure and temperature conditions within the cavity impact the cast product quality during and after the conclusion of the die filling process. Die surface cavity sensors can deliver information describing the conditions at the die-casting interface. They are associated with high costs and limited service lifetimes below the achievable total cycle count of the die inserts and therefore ill-suited for industrial use cases. In this work, the suitability of long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural networks (RNN) for substituting physical cavity temperature and pressure sensors virtually after the production ramp-up or at the end of the sensor service life is investigated. Training LSTMs with data of 233 casting cycles with different process parameters provides networks which are then applied to 99 further cycles. The prediction accuracy is investigated for different time interval lengths in the solidification and cooling phase. For longer time intervals, the cavity pressure prediction deteriorates, potentially due to a highly individual and hardly ascertainable buildup of casting distortion and internal stresses. Overall, however, the accuracy of the developed LSTMs is excellent for the cavity temperatures and good for the cavity pressures.

Development and Reproductive Performance of &lt;i&gt;Spodoptera frugiperda&lt;/i&gt; (J E Smith) on Different Host Plants

The development, reproductive performance, and population dynamics of fall army worm Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith) on different host plants were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The egg masses were collected from maize fields and kept in laboratory for incubation. The first instar larvae were shifted on to maize, soybean, cotton leaves, and artificial diet. The duration of larval period, pupal period, adult longevity and the total life cycle was recorded. The results revealed that larvae reared on artificial diet exhibited shorter larval and pupal periods with less adult longevity compared to those reared on maize, soybean, and cotton. Additionally, fecundity was highest among individuals reared on artificial diet, followed by maize, soybean, and cotton.

High emission of black carbon in heavy-duty diesel vehicles: Insights from microscopic operating conditions

The in-depth investigation of the high black carbon (BC) emission scenarios of heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) is a crucial step toward developing effective control strategies. Chassis dynamometer tests were conducted for three in-use HDDVs, namely, vehicle #1, #2, and #3, focusing on the instantaneous BC characterizations during multiple driving conditions, i.e., speed phases and acceleration intervals. BC emission was found to increase with positive acceleration, and high acceleration could result in instantaneous BC spikes. The total BC emissions during velocity-acceleration interval 15–60 km h−1 and 0.1–0.9 m s−2 contributed to 43.4 ± 10.2 % of the whole-cycle emissions, while the proportions of time spent in the velocity-acceleration interval to the whole cycle were 23.1 ± 7.6 %. The cold-start microscopic operating condition was assessed by the cold-start extra emissions (CSEEs). Under various pre-defined cold-start durations, the proportions of CSEEs in the total cycle emissions were 9.4–21.0 %, 0–9.1 %, and 6.8–39.4 % for vehicles #1, #2, and #3, respectively. The CSEEs exhibited an initial rise, followed by a plateau as the assumed cold-start durations extended. A uniform cold-start duration of 600 s was established based on the criterion that the relative standard deviation (RSD) of CSEEs during the plateau period was <10 %. We proposed that the updated cold-start duration can enhance the accuracy and consistency of cold-start corrections in emission inventory models.